Page 17 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 25
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Leadership
and trucks, in clothing and trade have been growing in immediate term and to ensure
textiles. We have the capacity recent years, but remain small greater investment in this
to produce more of our own by global standards. Intra- infrastructure into the future.
pharmaceutical products and Africa exports are reported As I conclude, allow me to
medical equipment. to stand at around 16 percent thank the Secretary General
of Africa’s total exports, of the AfCFTA Secretariat
Investment can flow to the compared to 55 percent in Asia, and his team for facilitating
production of chemicals, 49 percent in North America and guiding the AfCFTA
machinery and equipment, and 63 percent in the European negotiations.
household goods and many, Union.
many more. On the side of I thank the AfCFTA Council
our proceedings here at the For South Africa, as with of Ministers and Minister
quayside, we have assembled many other African countries, Ebrahim Patel and his team,
a few products that illustrate the start of preferential trade for their hard work negotiating
what will be exported today will create great opportunities the AfCFTA Agreement and
and in the weeks ahead. for growth and development. its Protocols. This has made it
Beyond the industrialisation Not only will it benefit our possible for us to witness the
of which I have spoken, country’s producers, but it will start of preferential trading.
this continental market can also see a huge increase in
help us promote agricultural traffic through our ports, our Last but not least, I wish to
development and food security. airports and our land-based express my appreciation to the
Through our work, we can border posts. exporters who have embraced
ensure that young people and this opportunity and have
women-owned firms are active The products made in worked with us to be part of
in export markets. Gauteng, Limpopo, North the first shipment of products
West, Free State, Mpumalanga under the African Continental
The Protocol on Women and the Northern Cape will Free Trade Area.
and Youth in Trade will flow through these ports to
help ensure that the African markets beyond our borders. From this quayside, and from
Continental Free Trade Area That is why, as the South ports, airports and border posts
contributes to inclusive African government, we are across the continent, a new
growth and development. We focused on implementing our era of growth and prosperity
have a unique opportunity Freight Logistics Roadmap is being born. A great future
to lift millions of people out to improve the efficiency awaits our continent and its
of poverty by empowering and competitiveness of the people.
women and young people to country’s rail lines and ports.
change the continent’s business We are working closely with I thank you.”
environment. industry to fix Transnet’s rail
The levels of intra-African and port operations in the
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